Mind games and focus

I know I have been so complacent in keeping up with writing on here, I promise I think about it all the time but when it comes down to it, I often have found that time is just not on my side.

When I signed up for Ironman Austria I was working full time at the Citizens Advice as a supervisor while juggling family stuff and I thought I had it sussed. People would often say how do you find the energy to do it all? Working full time, 4 kids and training 6 out of 7 days most weeks, the truth is when I was working at CAB though we had days where we were quite busy it was not at all what my new job has presented me with. Every day is a new challenge and as I am still learning the ropes of my new role and what that entails I have found myself a whole new kind of tired, and with this has meant that I have had to figure out I was going to juggle all these new demands on me. I have looked at training plans all over the internet, signed up to trial plans online, bought books and spoke to people to see what had worked for them.

All this however did not help when I had completely lost my desire, focus and all round mojo to train and really dedicate myself to this process, I just felt like I was going through the motions, I was still training but it was sporadic and with no real focus. It didnt help that it all felt so far away.. I was looking at my countdown App on my phone and 30 weeks felt like an eternity away...

In the last 2 weeks things feel like they are clicking into place, though I am battling with a hip impingement so I have eased off on the running and keeping up with the other disciplines... I am meant to be running in the Manchester Marathon in 7 weeks today, but I have decided that this might be detrimental to my Ironman training, and so I will decide closer to the time giving my physio exercises a chance to see if they help.. I have had my new bike fitted properly, which I also hope will help give me a leg up..no pun intended..

The last two weekends I have been blighted by the beautiful British weather... so I have spent 3 hours and 2.5 hours respectively on the turbo trainer.... This has been torture in some regards but has allowed me to watch some incredible and inspirational documentaries on triathlon and triathletes that have overcome some incredible obstacles... one thing is for sure... watching Ironman finishing videos always chokes me up.. but in the last few weeks it has really helped me find my focus... I have continuously found myself envisioning that finish line moment.. that red carpet and hearing them announce over the speaker... CHELSEA KNIGHT... YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!

Even writing that made me well up.... I am so grateful for my family and friends and all their support, and I am so excited that some of them will be there in Austria to see me participate and ultimately finish my toughest challenge to date...

So as I enter the next phase of my training this week which is the build phase, after a very sporadic and lacking base phase... I fully intend to keep myself accountable to myself and to all of you, who are reading this and who I am so lucky to share this journey with!...

Next event is Wokingham Half marathon which is next Sunday to which I have inherited a place from the Lovely Darren and Kirstie Stone, which will allow me to run at Zone 2 for 2:30 hours... I am really struggling to slow my pace down.. but I have read that there are many measurable benefits to low zone training as well as I am looking to try and implement a 9:1 run to walk ratio... another thing I will find a challenge as most runners will tell you that the ultimate determinant is whether you can run and event or distance without stopping to walk.. so to plan to do so goes against the grain, but I am convinced that I must trust the science that this will enable me to not only get to the start line in good fitness and form but will also allow me to get through the Ironman.

Also for any of you who have spotify I will be looking to put together my Ironman training playlist which some of you may enjoy... I will be happy to share it with you all.. but also please do forward on any suggestions... my fave at the moment is Follow you Fire by Kodaline...

I am so happy to be back.. and getting better.. :)